Trapped person signal



Oct. 31, 1961 N. H. JONES TRAPPED PERSON SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11. 1960 INVENTOR. NOIZBJE H. JONES RY WM MW ATTORNEYS;

Oct. 31, 1961 N. H. JONES TRAPPED PERSON SIGNAL .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1960 INVENTOR. NOIZBIE H. Jones ATTORNEYS 3,396,995 Patented Get. 31, 1961 3,006,095 TRAPPED PERSGN SIGNAL Norbie H. Jones, 3931 N. 32nd St., Kansas City, Kans- Filed May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,391 4 Qiaims. (Cl. 46-128) This invention relates to signal devices, and more par ticularly to an emergency signal which may be actuated to effect a display to attract attention and give the location to rescuers.

The present invention is designed to provide a signal device attached to the building near the windows of the rooms or areas and containing a signal member with a structure that is easily actuated to release the signal that will immediately give notice to persons on surrounding premises of the person trapped in the room, whereby measures may be taken to effect a rescue and removal of such trapped person.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a signal device and mounting for attachment to an outside wall of a building adjacent a window opening with a signal member enclosed therein and mechanism for selectively releasing the signal member to expose same to view from outside of the building; to provide such a signal structure wherein a signal member consisting of a plurality of hingedly connected panels normally folded and stored in a housing attached to the exterior of a building adjacent a window is held by a retaining means that is releasable whereby the signal member unfolds to display the panels to view; to provide such a structure wherein the signal member retaining means is easily accessible and is released by a pull toward the window; to provide such a structure wherein the release mechanism is held in signal retaining position by a breakable seal that is broken by actuation of the release mechanism; and to provide a trapped person signal that is economical to manufacture, easily installed, substantially unaffected by atmospheric conditions whereby it is continually in condition for immediate actuation to display a large signal or sign to advise that a person is trapped in the room.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a signal device mounted on a building adjacent a window with the signal member in stored position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with the signal member in released exposed position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the signal device with portions broken away to illustrate the arrange ment of the signal member in stored position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the signal device with the signal member in stored position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the signal device in signal member released position.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the signal device, taken on the line 6-6, FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, through the signal device, taken on the line 77, FIG. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a signal device particularly for use by trapped persons in buildings to attract attention and indicate their location. In the structure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the signal device .1 includes a support 2 adapted to be mounted on a building 3 preferably adjacent a window opening 4. In the illustrated structure, the signal support 2 is secured by suitable fastening devices 5 to the window sill 6, the support extending outwardly from the building whereby a signal member 7 whendisplayed will depend therefrom along the outside of the building wall. In the illustrated structure, the support 2 includes a housing 8 having connected opposed side walls 9 and it), end walls 11 and 12 and a top wall 13, the bottom of the housing having an opening 14. In the structure illustrated, the top wall 13 has depending peripheral flanges 15 which overlie the upper portion of the side and end walls to form a removable cover or top wall secured to the side and end walls as by suitable fastening devices such as screws 16. Also, in the structure illustrated, angle brackets 17 are secured to the opposed end walls 11 and 12 and extend therefrom to the window sill 6 to form the supporting members, the angle brackets 17 being of such length that the side wall 9 adjacent the building is spaced outwardly beyond the Window ledge member 18 of the building. A housing closing panel or bottom plate member 19 preferably of a shape corresponding to the shape of the bottom opening 14 and slightly smaller to be movable therein is hingedly mounted on the housing. In the illustrated structure, a hinge member 20 is secured to the lower inside portion of the side wall 9 and to the bottom plate member 19 adjacent the edge 21 thereof whereby said bottom plate member is swingable from bottom closing position relative to the housing to 21 depending or hanging relation.

The signal member 7 includes the bottom plate member 19 and preferably consists of a chain of panels formed of a plurality of plates hingedly connected together by suitable hinge means 22 along opposed edges whereby the signal panels are adapted to be disposed in a stacked series as at 23 in superimposed relation or one overlying another and positioned on the bottom plate member 19 when said bottom plate member is in housing closing position, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In the illustrated structure, a signal panel 24 has its edge portion 25 connected by suitable hinge means 26 to the edge portion 27 of the bottom plate member 13 opposite the edge 21, and the opposed edge portion 28 of the panel 24 is suitably connected by hinge means 29 to a signal panel 30 whereby said panels 24 and 36 are adapted to be disposed in de pending hanging relation relative to the bottom plate member 19. In the same manner, signal panels 31, 32, 33 and 34 are connected in series with the panel 31 connected to the panel 30 to form the chain. It is preferred that the chain of panels, when in depending relation relative to the housing, have their outer surfaces 35 relative to the building carry suitable indicia 36 which, in the structure illustrated, the bottom plate member 19 and panels 24, 3d, 31, 32, 33 and 34 carry the letters TRAPP ED respectively to form the signal to advise passersby or rescue personnel of the situation relative to a person in the building at the area having the window opening 4. Also, the surfaces 35 may be suitably coated with fluorescent or reflective materials to increase visibility of the signal when displayed at night.

The signal member normally has the signal panels folded one on the other to be positioned in a stack 23 on the bottom plate 19 whereby said signal panels are positioned within the housing 8 with the bottom plate member 1 9 in bot-tom opening closing position, said bot-,

tom plate and the panels being held in such stored position by a releasable latch means 37. In the illustrated structure, the bottom plate member has lugs 38 extending outwardly from end edges 39 thereof, and the end walls 11 and 12 each have notches 4t extending upwardly from the bottom edges thereof through which the lugs 33 extend when the bottom plate is in housing closing position. For imparting rigidity, the lugs 38 preferably are end portions of a rod 41 extending lengthwise of the plate member 19 approximately midway between the edges 21 and 27 thereof and suitably secured to the bottom surface 42 as by welding. The latch members 37 preferably consist of levers 4-3 hingedly mounted relative to the housing adjacent the ends thereof with the levers extending downwardly from pivot mountings 44 and each having a notch or slot 45 extending therein to engage the lugs 38 and hold the bottom plate 19 in housing closing position whereby the bottom portion of the levers and the lugs 38 form interengaging releasable latch members. In the illustrated structure, a bar member 46 is suitably secured to the upper face of the top wall 13 and has depending cars 47 extending downwardly at the ends thereof with the levers 43 pivotally mounted to the ears by the pivot mounting or pins 44. The upper ends of the levers extend upwardly above the top wall 13 and are connected by a handle member 48 which is easily accessible from the window and the notches 45 are arranged whereby the pull of the handle 48 toward the building swings the levers 43 to disengage said levers from the lugs 38 to release the bottomrnember and panels whereby they can swing downwardly relative to each other and form a depending signal 7. [it is preferable that the bar member 46 have an upstanding ear 49 adjacent one of the levers 43, and said ear and lever have aligned openings 50 and 51 respectively to receive a soft wire 52 when the lever members 43 are engaged with the lugs 38 to hold the signal in stored position in the housing. The soft wire 52 then has its ends connected to form a seal and also provide resistance to movement of the levers 43 to prevent accidental actuation and display of the signal. The soft wire is such that a reasonable pull on the handle 48 will move the levers 43 and shear the seal wire 52 and permit the release of the signal member for display.

-When the structure is assembled and mounted, as illustrated and described, with the signal panels and bottom member in signal stored position wherein the signal panels are in the stack 23 on the bottom plate 19 and the bottom plate is in housing closing position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the levers 4 3 engaged with the lugs 38 to retain the signal in stored position, the seal wire 52 is applied and the signal will then remain in stored position until necessary for use. The structure is such that the signal panels are protected from the weather by the housing, and also all movable portions may be of loose fits whereby it corroded they will still function. In the event of fire where any person is trapped in the building in an area having the window opening 4, the person may break the window or raise the lower sash, grasp the handle '48 and pull same, shearing the wire 52 and releasing the signal member 7 for downward swinging movement to display the chain of panels in a visible series, one depending from another, in a line from the housing. Even though the trapped person should be overcome or otherwise leave the window opening, the signal remains in position whereby firemen or rescue squads arriving at the scene can immediately see the signal and know which areas require immediate investigation for rescue. After the person is rescued, the signal panels can be quickly folded and the bottom member 19 swung upwardly whereby the lugs 38 will be engaged by the levers 43 to return the signal to stored position.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A trapped person signal device comprising, a housing for attachment to the outside of a building adjacent a window, said housing having connected side, end and top walls, a bottom plate member hinged to one of the side and end walls and adapted to swing from a bottom closing position to a depending position from said one of the side and end walls, a signal member formed of an elongate foldable structure adapted to be disposed in a folded stack, means connecting the lower portion of the folded signal structure to the bottom plate member in opposed relation to the hinging of said bottom plate member to the housing wall whereby said folded stack is normally positioned in stacked relation on said bottom plate member, and a lever having a portion pivotally mounted relative to the housing, a lug on the bottom plate member spaced from the hinged connection of the bottom plate member with the housing, means on said lever releasably engaging the lug on the bottom plate member to normally retain said bottom plate member in bottom closing position with the signal member in a folded stack thereon, and means on the upper portion of the lever accessible from the building window opening for actuation of the lever to release the bottom plate member whereby the bottom plate member and the signal structure unfolds and swings downwardly to depend in a line from said housing to form a signal adjacent the window opening and visible exteriorly of the building.

2. A trapped person signal device comprising, a housing for attachment to the outside of a building adjacent a window, said housing having connected side, end and top walls, a bottom plate member hinged to one of the side and end walls and adapted to swing from a bottom closing position to a depending position from said one of the side and end walls, a chain of panels formed of a plurality of plates hingedly connected together along opposed edges and adapted to be disposed in a stacked series superimposed one overlying another, means hingedly connecting the lowermost of the superimposed series of panels to the bottom plate member in opposed relation to the hinging of said bottom plate member to the housing wall whereby said panels are normally positioned in stacked relation on said bottom plate member, a pair of connected levers having portions pivotally mounted adjacent opposed walls of the housing, said levers having upper portions above the housing, means on said bottom plate member releasably engaged by said levers for normally retaining said bottom plate member in bottom closing position with the chain of panels stacked thereon, and a breakable seal securing the levers relative to the housing in bottom engaging position, said upper portions of the levers being accessible from the building window opening for actuation of the levers to break the seal and release the bottom plate member whereby'the bottom plate member and the chain of panels swing downwardly to depend in a line from said housing to form a signal adjacent the window opening and visible exteriorly of the building.

3. A trapped person signal device comprising, a housing for attachment to the outside of a building adjacent a window opening, said housing having connected side, end and top walls, one of said side walls being adjacent the building with the housing extending outwardly therefrom, a bottom plate member, means hingedly connecting the bottom plate member adjacent one edge thereof to said side wall adjacent the building whereby said bottom plate member is adapted to swing from a bottom closing position to 21 depending position from said side wall, a chain of panels formed of a plurality of plates hingedly connected together along opposed edges, means hingedly connecting the uppermost of the chain of panels to the bottom plate member in opposed relation to the hinge means connecting the bottom plate member to the housing whereby said chain of panels depend from the bottom plate member in a line from said housing side wall and are adapted to be folded one on another in a stacked series to overlie the bottom plate member when said bottom plate member is in bottom closing position, a pair of levers with one at each end of the housing, means pivotally mounting the pair of levers on the housing whereby each lever has portions extending above and below the housing, oppositely extending lugs on the bottom plate member spaced from the hinge connection of the bottom plate member with the housing, means on said pair of levers releasably engaging the lugs on the bottom plate member to normally hold the bottom plate member in bottom closing position with the chain of panels stacked thereon, a handle member connecting the upper portions of the levers and accessible from the building window opening for actuating the levers to release the bottom plate member whereby the bottom plate ember and chain of panels swing downwardly to form a signal depending from the housing and visible from the exterior of the building.

4. A trapped person signal device comprising, a housing for attachment to the outside of a building adjacent a window opening, said housing having connected side, end and top walls, one of said side walls being adjacent the building with the housing extending outwardly therefrom, a bottom plate member, means hingedly connecting the bottom plate member adjacent one edge thereof to said side wall adjacent the building whereby said bottom plate member is adapted to swing from a bottom closing position to a depending position from said side wall, a chain of panels formed of a plurality of plates hingedly connected together along opposed edges, means hingedly connecting the uppermost of the chain of panels to the bottom plate member in opposed relation. to the said bottom plate member is in bottom closing position, indicia on faces of said panels remote from said building when the chain of panels depend from the housing, a pair of levers with one at each end of the housing, means pivotally mounting the pair of levers on the housing whereby each lever has a portion extending above and below the housing, oppositely extending lugs on the bottom plate member spaced from the hinge connection of the bottom plate member with the housing, means on said pair of levers releasa'bly engaging the lugs on the bottom member to normally hold the bottom plate member in bottom closing position with the chain of panels stacked thereon, a breakable seal securing a lever relative to the housing in bottom plate lug engaging position, a handle member connecting the upper portions of the levers and accessible from the building window opening for actuating the levers to break the seal and release the bottom plate member whereby the bottom plate member and chain of panels swing downwardly to form a signal depending from the housing and visible from the exterior of the building.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,956 Thomsen May 8, 1906 2,938,841 Lawlor Apr. 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,680 Netherlands Jan. 15, 1929 

